Why did the Vanuatu PM order cancellation of Lalit Modi’s passport?

The Vanuatu passport of former Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi was revoked on Monday following a directive from the island nation’s Prime Minister, Jotham Napat, to the Citizenship Commission.

Different enforcement agencies are examining Lalit Modi for purported violations of foreign exchange regulations concerning a broadcasting agreement associated with the 2009 IPL season. While serving as the chairman of the IPL governing body, he is also alleged to have misappropriated crores of rupees.

The matter emerged when Modi submitted a request to the Indian High Commission in London on March 7 to hand over his Indian passport. Residing in London, it is thought that he has obtained citizenship from Vanuatu.

The citizenship-by-investment scheme of the island country requires a non-refundable contribution of a minimum of $130,000 (approximately ₹1.3 crore) to the government. The individual in question does not have to reside in the country and may possess dual citizenship.

Prime Minister Jotham Napat stated that he ordered the cancellation of Modi’s passport once he learned of “new disclosures” in the global media. His statement claimed that all standard background checks, including Interpol inquiries, carried out during the application phase revealed no record of Modi’s criminal conviction.

However, Napat added that he was “made aware in the past 24 hours that Interpol twice rejected Indian authorities’ requests to issue an alert notice on Lalit Modi due to lack of substantive judicial evidence.”

Emphasising that applications seeking citizenship must be for legitimate reasons, Napat said that “holding a Vanuatu passport is a privilege, not a right.”

“None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light indicate was Modi’s intention,” the statement said.